Euphyes arpa, Palmetto Skipper

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Freshly emerged female

Freshly emerged female

Freshly emerged male

Description: 16-20 mm. Bright golden orange below. Perhaps the easiest way to differentiate between other orange skippers such as  E. berryi is the bright orange scaling on the thorax and head of fresh adults. Males are orange above with dark brown boarders and a dark stigma on the forewings. Females above are dark brown with a few golden spots on the forewing

Habitat and Distribution: Common in Florida where saw palmetto is present. It was reported abundant in the pines of Big Pine Key in the 70's but later searches for this species have not turned up any confirmed sightings. It probably is no longer breeding in the Keys

Host Plant: Saw palmetto (Cirsium horridulum)

Natural History: 

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